Live Like a Leader with John Bates
Live Like a Leader is where accomplished leaders explore what it takes to communicate with clarity, earn trust, and move people to meaningful action. L=f(c): Leadership is a function of communication. Great leadership is a function of great communication. Hosted by John K. Bates, executive communication coach, keynote speaker, TED/TEDx speaker coach, and founder of Executive Speaking Success, the show features candid conversations with NASA astronauts, Navy SEALs, global executives, entrepreneurs, authors, and other remarkable leaders. Each episode turns lived experience into practical insight you can use to communicate with greater clarity, credibility, humanity, and impact. John’s...
Tracey Ivanyshyn: Turning Grief and Kindness into Leadership Strength
Today, I sit down with Tracey Ivanyshyn, a serial entrepreneur, culture builder, corporate grief educator, death doula, and co-founder of Kindness at Work. After more than 25 years leading purpose-driven businesses and a team of over 100 people, Tracey has turned her attention to helping organizations build trust, belonging, and the capacity to meet loss with greater humanity.
Tracey and I met on Necker Island, where a remarkable group of people came together around Richard Branson and the work of Virgin Unite. We begin with some joyful memories from that time, but our conversation soon becomes deeply personal. I...
From Near-Death, Extreme Sport, and Bullying to Building Character in 10,000 Children a Week with Sebastian Bates
Today I sit down with my dear friend Sebastian Bates. Seb and I first met when he was a client of mine, and from the beginning, I was deeply impressed by him—by his drive, his heart, his courage, and the sheer scale of what he is building in the world. He is one of those rare people who combine intensity with purpose, and ambition with service. I respect him tremendously.
In this conversation, Seb shares the extraordinary story of a wingsuit BASE jumping accident in the Dolomites that nearly killed him and left doctors telling him he...
Matt Hunter: How to Be Tough Enough Without Becoming a Jerk
Today, I sit down with Matt Hunter, executive coach and co-author with John Baird of Tough Enough: How to Lead a Team to Greatness Without Being a Jerk. Matt and I met several years ago on Necker Island, and I’ve liked and respected him ever since. When I saw what he and John were taking on with this book, I wanted him on the show.
Because they’re walking straight into a leadership question I care about enormously.
We’ve all seen the examples: founders and executives who produce extraordinary results while leaving a trail...
SHIFT: A Transformational Journey from Playing Small to Unapologetically Thriving with Dr. Nicole Butts
Today I sit down with Dr. Nicole Butts, best-selling and award-winning author, speaker, and organizational culture strategist and expert, whose new book is SHIFT: A Transformational Journey from Playing Small to Unapologetically Thriving.
This conversation is a masterclass in what happens when high-achieving leaders (especially women) finally stop outsourcing their worth to other people’s approval—and start leading from alignment.
Nicole opens up about something almost every great leader experiences, but few say out loud: that moment right before a big opportunity where the old story shows up—I’m not worthy. I don’t belong her...
Potential, Passion, Purpose: Flipping the Switch with Joel Steele
Today I'm joined by Joel Steele, co-founder of Steele Financial Solutions and author of the powerful new book Life Switch. Joel’s journey from owning a failed healthy fast food restaurant to building a multi-million-dollar financial firm is inspiring, vulnerable, and packed with leadership gold.
We dive into how devastating failures can unlock hidden potential and why Joel refused to declare bankruptcy, even when he was drowning in nearly $500,000 in debt at just 24 years old. He shares the exact mindset shift that reignited his fire—and the three “P”s that form the backbone of his book...
How Real Experts Become Recognized (and Paid) Without Selling Their Soul with Freddie Pullen
Today I sit down with Freddie Pullen—founder of The Healthy Entrepreneur Podcast and the founder of Recognized (recognized.global)—and we go straight at a problem I care about deeply: There are too many truly capable experts who stay invisible… while louder, less-qualified voices dominate the conversation.
Freddie helps experts become recognized for the value they already have—and then monetize that attention in a way that actually feels aligned. We talk about the practical strategies (podcast guesting, LinkedIn, positioning), but we also go deeper into the psychology: what it really takes to earn credibili...
Building the Long Game — From Pandemic Food Relief to NomadAI + “Universe” (LinkedIn for Gen Z) with Camden Francis
Today I sit down with Camden Francis—a 21-year-old founder in the Boston area who’s already lived a few lifetimes worth of leadership reps.
We talk about the real story behind the highlight reel: how Camden co-founded a pandemic-era food distribution charity that moved $100,000 worth of food and resources, how that experience became a launchpad into the startup world, and why his newest projects—NomadAI (AI-assisted travel planning) and Universe (a career/network platform “for Gen Z,” currently under wraps)—are rooted in something deeper than ambition: service, meaning, and the long game.
A b...
AI, White Space Strategy, and the Future of Business Growth with Ryan Edwards
Some conversations arrive exactly when they’re needed.
This is one of them.
In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Edwards, my friend and the co-founder of Camino5, for a conversation that’s been years in the making. Ryan and I first met at one of my live events in Los Angeles, and ever since, he’s been one of those people who quietly shifts how I see the business landscape. He has a rare vantage point: deep experience working with startups, global brands, and billion-dollar companies, and the pattern recognition that comes w...
Leadership in the Age of AI with Pete Sacco
Today I sit down with Pete Sacco—entrepreneur, technologist, “modern-day mystic,” and a 30-year veteran of designing, building, and operating serious data centers. Pete is also the founder of Gray Wolf Data Centers, and he has a front-row seat to what AI is about to demand from our infrastructure—and from us as leaders.
What I loved about this conversation is the range: we go from the brutally practical realities of leadership (cash flow, culture, motivating people) to the big human questions AI forces into the open: Who are we when our “work” no longer defines our v...
Why AI Needs Taste, Not Just Prompts with Kelly Abbott
Today I sit down with Kelly Abbott, one of my absolute best friends and someone I have known for more than 20 years, and we get into a conversation I think all of us need to be having right now. Kelly is one of the most talented CIOs, internet entrepreneurs, and technology minds I know, and what I appreciate most about him is that he does not approach AI like a hype man. He approaches it like a builder, an artist, a strategist, and a deeply curious human being. That combination is rare.
What really stands out to...
Leadership Under Pressure: What Cybersecurity Experts Can Teach Us About Trust, Systems, and AI with Jay Korpi and Jeremy Dodson
Today I sit down with cybersecurity experts Jay Korpi and Jeremy Dodson, two men I genuinely respect and really enjoy talking with. Jeremy and Jay came through Media Mastery Experts, and I think they are total salt-of-the-earth great guys. They also happen to be unusually deep thinkers with backgrounds in cybersecurity, attack emulation, AI, consulting, and systems design, so this conversation goes far beyond tech. What really stands out to me is that, underneath all the jargon and complexity, this episode is about leadership, trust, judgment, and responsibility.
We begin with the world they know best: risk...
Executive Branding in the Age of AI: How to Build Trust (Without Selling Your Soul) with Jess Jensen
Today I sit down with Jess Jensen, founder and CEO of Copilot Communications, where she helps executives build trust, credibility, and warmth online so they can open doors to clients, partners, and opportunity.
Jess has lived through the “birth, boom, and backlash” of social — from launching the first Adidas Facebook page in the early days of brand pages, to building global governance at Microsoft when every country team was spinning up pages with no consistency, to leading executive digital comms at Qualcomm after realizing that people connect with people, not brands.
We also...
Leadership and the Front Line Workforce: Lessons from the Targets of Change with Gilmore Crosby
In this episode of Live Like a Leader, I sit down with organizational development expert Gil Crosby (https://www.crosbyod.com/) to explore timeless principles for change, leadership, and frontline empowerment. Learn why most “programs” fail, how to balance authority with freedom, and how leaders can unlock performance by listening to the people closest to the work.
Gil Crosby has been an Organization Development Professional since 1984. He applies the Social Science of Kurt Lewin to help organizations navigate change and improve performance, as the same principles apply in both business and society. He is also a Professor at th...
Duty, Honor, Country: Building an Authentic American Brand with Army Ranger Dean Wegner
🧠 Key Topics we discussed in this episode:
Dean’s path from West Point to entrepreneurship How Ranger School forged his leadership mindset What “authentically American” really means—and why it matters The challenges (and joys) of building a mission-led brand Innovation in apparel: soft shirts, secret prints & national pride Why values like integrity, faith, and country still lead the way
🙌 Connect with Dean Wegner:
Website: authenticallyamerican.us
LinkedIn: Dean Wegner on LinkedIn
Instagram: @authentically_american
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
Catch more inspiring conversations at LiveLikeALeader.show
Subscrib...
Branding from the Inside Out: Speaking from Your Core Essence with Jenna Flanagan
We dive into:
Why your beingness is the brand—and how to access itThe quiet resistance most leaders carry that keeps them from full expressionHer philosophy on “branding from the inside out”How she helps clients identify and speak from their core essence, not just what they doThe real story of how she and I met—and why she decided I needed a podcastThis conversation goes far beyond brand strategy. It’s about being brave enough to be fully seen and fully yourself. Jenna doesn’t just build brands—she calls people home to who they are.
If...
Confessions of a Hacker with Jeremiah Baker
In this episode, we cover:
✅ How Jeremiah went from bootstrapping websites during the dot-com boom to building a global cybersecurity business.✅ Why most cybercrime isn’t about “hacking systems,” it’s about hacking humans.✅ The emotional tricks scammers use, and how to spot them before you get duped.✅ Real-world stories of cybercrime that cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in seconds.✅ The single most important (and shockingly simple) thing you can do to protect yourself today.
Jeremiah also shares powerful insights from his keynote, Confessions of a Hacker, including why it’s often too late once the money is...
Three Simple Things, and the Never-Quit Mindset with Thom Shea
In this episode with Thom Shea, we cover:
What makes someone truly “unbreakable”How to survive the worst day of your life, and what happens if you don’t give upWhy “just doing the basics” is often the most advanced move you can makeHis life-saving experience during a firefight in Afghanistan that earned him the Silver StarThe Rule of Three; how simplifying complexity transforms business, health, and leadershipWhether you’re leading a team or leading your own life, Thom shares insights that will challenge and empower you to show up—again and again—no matter what.
👉 Connect w...
Next Level Healing: From Trauma to Transformation with Dr. Tara Perry
We get into interesting topics like:
Why communicating with human beings isn’t logical—it’s biologicalWhat Navy SEALs, elite surgeons, and business leaders all get wrong about stress and recoveryThe surprising ways trauma shows up in leadership, relationships, and performanceAnd the decisive importance of celebration in reprogramming the nervous systemWhether you’re a high-performing executive or just someone looking to be free of your invisible walls, Tara’s insight is not to be missed.
👉 Visit ConsultTara.com and let her know you heard her on Speak Like a Leader. She’ll send you her “Unzip” med...
Captured by Love, Grounded in Honor with Col. Lee Ellis
In our conversation, we explore:
What it was like to fly the legendary F-4 Phantom into combat.The moment his jet exploded — and the life-altering seconds that followed.What helped him survive nearly six years as a POW.The power of faith, friendship, and camaraderie under unthinkable conditions.One of the lowest moments of his time in captivity, and the lesson we can all learn from it. Why honor isn’t just a virtue — it's also a strategy for long-term success.And how we can all bounce back from setbacks with resilience and grace.We also discuss Lee’s lat...
TEDx Truths, Speaking Myths & The Motivation Behind “The Motivated Speaker” with Ruth Milligan
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why TEDx is hyper-local—and why that matters more than you think.The one mistake I made in my first TED experience (and what it taught me).Why feedback must start with self-awareness.What makes group presentations succeed—or fail—and how to avoid pitch disasters.Why listening to yourself on video is brutal but necessary (and how to make it less painful).Ruth is smart, generous, and a total TEDx pro, and this episode is packed with real talk, real tools, and real inspiration for anyone who wants to communicate at a highe...
From Tragedy to Triumph with Kijuan Amey
Kijuan doesn’t just talk about resilience—he embodies it. Whether you’re going through a tough season or just need a reminder of how strong you really are, this episode will leave you inspired and empowered.
💥Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
A behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to refuel aircraft mid-flight (including wild SR-71 and F-4 Phantom stories)The life-altering accident that changed everything—and the month-long coma that followedThe raw truth about faith, fear, and finding purpose after traumaHow Kijuan’s drumming, faith, and mission helped him transform pain i...Leadership and the Lost Art of Listening with Julian Treasure
From snapping shrimp to blue whales, from silence to soundscapes, we cover:
Why diversity of opinion is vital in leadershipHow sound affects everything from productivity to healthSimple daily practices to instantly improve your listening, and be heard more clearly in returnWhat business gets wrong about audio—and how to fix itThe importance of designing your acoustic environment with intentionJulian also shares a generous offer for my listeners: a free one-week trial of his new online community, The Listening Society. Whether you're a team leader, teacher, or simply someone who wants to deepen their relationships, The Listening Socie...
Making Your Message Stick in a Noisy World with Jennifer Kaplan
Jennifer Kaplan is the founder and CEO of Evolve Public Relations and Marketing, a premier PR agency she established in 2010 to help businesses and professionals authentically tell their stories. With a communications degree from Arizona State University and an entrepreneurial spirit, Jennifer has dedicated her career to elevating brands, building trust, and fostering meaningful connections.
Jennifer comes from a family of entrepreneurs, so forging her own path was a no-brainer! As a young professional, she left her steady sales job to take on her first client, boldly launching herself into the rest of her career. In 2005, she...
Leadership is a Choice: Redefining Power, Vulnerability & Purpose with Becky Schmooke
What You’ll Learn:
Why real leaders don’t always have the title—or the powerHow Becky’s Stoic-inspired Choose the Handle That Holds became a guidebook for life and leadershipThe difference between authentic vulnerability and oversharingA live demo of STOA: a goal-setting tool you’ll want to use immediatelyHow to model leadership for your team, your family, and yourself
🧠 Leadership Insight:
“You can’t expect people to come to you with their mistakes if you’re not willing to share yours.”
🎁 Get Becky’s Free Resource:
Want the STOA PDF to map you...
From Combat Zones to Bestseller Lists: Leadership Lessons with Atlas Aultman
What You’ll Learn:
Why the “Rule of Three” is a leadership game changerThe origin and impact of Atlas’ TEDx talk: Start with WhoWhat pirate leadership teaches us about trust and motivationWhy success leaves clues—and how to collect themThe mindset shift from chasing opportunities to choosing legacy
Leadership Gold:
“Every leader I’ve admired kept it simple: People. Time. Money.” The Rule of 3.
Resources & Links:
Download Atlas’ "Best-Selling Book" ProcessWatch his TEDx Talk: Start with WhoConnect with Atlas on his podcast: TargetedAnd, follow him on LinkedIn for more great insights. ...Positivity Through the Storm with Dr. Paul Jenkins
What You’ll Learn:
How adversity can become your most powerful teacherThe surprise that “everything’s still in color” after a bankruptcyWhy “Don’t be nervous, be at their service” is more than just a sticker—it’s a leadership principleHow metacognition gives you the power to shift from victim to agentWhat the “Influence Quadrant” is—and how it can transform your communication and leadership
Links & Resources:
🎧 Dr. Paul’s Podcast: Live on Purpose Radio📘 Get the Influence Quadrant Visual: drpauljenkins.com/johnbates🧠 Listen to my appearance on Live on Purpose Radio: https://liveonpurposeradio.com/mirror-neurons-and-the-monkey-min...From Hell Week to Healing — Diego Ugalde
💡 “What if Hell Week was a Celebration?”
Diego failed SEAL training the first time—broken bones, broken dreams, and broken expectations. But it wasn’t the end. He came back ten years later, fully transformed, and turned the infamous Hell Week into moment after moment of gratitude.
Lesson: When you reframe suffering as growth, everything changes. “I wasn’t being punished—I was being tested, transformed, and tempered.”
🧩 The Secret to SEAL Team Communication
Corporate leaders always ask: “Why do SEALs communicate so well?” Diego reveals it’s not just tactics—it’s intense trus...
The Valuepreneur Mindset: Rethinking Startup Success with Steve Waddell
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Steve Waddell transitioned from shipbuilding to entrepreneurship.The inspiration behind Valuepreneurs and why it challenges conventional startup wisdom.The key lesson from Steve’s TEDx Talk: Start with Who, Not Why.The challenges of launching a product, from patents to tariffs and the impact of COVID-19.Why networking, strategic grants, and understanding your customers are the keys to startup success.The groundbreaking technology Steve is developing to improve healthcare and independent living for seniors.Guest: Steve Waddell
CEO & Founder of NasoniCreator of the award-winning Nasoni Fountain FaucetAuthor of Valu...Leading with Love: The Power of Insightful Vulnerability™ with David Cunningham
David Cunningham has spent over 35 years as a transformational leader, coach, and educator, working with hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide. He draws from his personal experiences and lifelong commitment to love and consciousness to inspire others to live with purpose, grace, and love. His teachings have helped countless people awaken to their highest selves and realize the power of love in everyday life.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Leadership isn’t about being right—it’s about being connected.
✅ Love is the most powerful leadership tool we have.
✅ Patience and presence create deeper rela...
From Shame to Service: Harnessing the Power of Your Story with Mark Leruste
Key Takeaways:
Proximity Bias: Why your story might feel “boring” to you but is magical to others hearing it for the first time.From Shame to Service: How sharing your story transforms not just others but also yourself.Emotional Credibility: Establish trust and connection with audiences by sharing your authentic origin story.Strategic Storytelling: Your story is about you, but it’s for your audience—tailor it with intention to resonate and inspire action.Vulnerability in Leadership: Being imperfect in public makes you relatable and influential, fostering genuine connections.
Addressing Polarization in Leadership:
Mark and...
The Authenticity Equation: How to Lead, Connect, and Inspire with Mike Robbins
Key Takeaways:
The Authenticity Equation: Mike’s formula for creating genuine connections through honesty, humility, and vulnerability.Why vulnerability matters: Discover how emotional exposure fosters trust and empathy, even in high-stakes leadership.Sweaty palm conversations: How leaning into difficult discussions can unlock stronger relationships and higher performance.The power of listening: Learn why a “safe space” starts with listening and how leaders can use this to inspire better communication.Lessons in resilience: From losing a baseball career to becoming a best-selling author and speaker, Mike shares how life’s toughest moments often lead to our biggest transformations.Addressi...
A Father’s Fight for the Future: From Dragons’ Den to Building a Better World
Dan Sherrard-Smith is the founder & CEO of MotherTree. MotherTree works with values-led businesses to reduce CO2 emissions, increase client satisfaction, and unlock savings. Launched by the founding team behind Look After My Bills: Best ever deal on Dragons' Den, saved the British public £127m in 3 years.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Unlocking Your Leadership Potential: A No-Nonsense Guide to Excellence with Baz Porter®
Baz Porter isn’t just an executive consultant; he’s the catalyst that top-tier CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders rely on to unlock their next level. He is also the best-selling author of 'Cracking the Rich Code,' endorsed by Tony Robbins and featuring a foreword by Brian Tracy. With over 15 years in the trenches, Baz has mastered the art of high-performance coaching, using his trademark R.A.M.S. framework (Results, Attitude, Mastery, Systems) to cut through the noise and help leaders reignite their purpose, overcome the inner battles no one else sees, and reclaim control of their path...
Misinformation & Disinformation: Navigating the Digital Age with Mark Albert
Mark Albert is the founder and CEO of Media Advisory Experts, a Washington, DC-based consultancy providing media training, crisis communications, earned media, storytelling and video production services to clients in the U.S. and around the globe. He and his team guide leaders on their path to amplify their stories in the media, coaching top executives from C-suite to founders.
Mark is also a Peabody and EMMY award-winning master storyteller with a 25-year journalism career distinguished by investigative and political reporting, innovative storytelling techniques, and creative communications. He's traveled the world for CBS News and reported from...
Leading with Clarity | Minal Mehta
In this episode of Live Like a Leader, I’m joined by Minal Mehta, a leadership coach with deep experience in the tech world. Minal has worked at top companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Amazon, and now helps ambitious leaders align their careers with their true selves while bringing joy and ease into their lives.
We dive into her journey from high-powered tech exec to leadership coach and how she balances drive with mindfulness. Minal shares personal stories about her wake-up call moments, blending her background in psychology and meditation to help leaders grow, and the lessons sh...
Exploring the Future of Tech with Robert Scoble | AI, Innovation, and Lessons from the Past
Robert Scoble is the Founder of Unaligned.io and has written seven books on tech worldwide. He worked as a strategist at Microsoft, got the first ride in a Tesla from Elon Musk, was the first to ride in an autonomous Mercedes, was the 79th user of Instagram, and launched Siri in his house. He's been a first mover and early adopter for a very long time.
He also runs Scobleizer https://scobleizer.blog/, which he started as a blog about the technology industry from his perch in Silicon Valley. He was the first to see Tesla, F...
Can I Bring My Faith To Work? | Melissa White
As an emerging global voice, Melissa advocates for a new generation of millennial leaders in the workplace and the community. This especially includes work to bridge the generational communication and leadership gaps in corporate spaces and civic leadership. She is a multi-hyphenate leader who specializes in inclusion, leadership, program development, and cultivating corporate and community relationships to create change.
Watch her TEDxBuckhead talk Can I Bring My Faith To Work?
Find more at Melissadwhite.com and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/melissadwhite.
Ready to make your communication a match...
The Power of Letting Go | Jim Britt
Jim Britt is the author of 15 best-selling books and nine #1 International Best sellers and multiple online programs. Some of his many titles include Rings of Truth, Do This. Get Rich-For Entrepreneurs, Do This. Get Rich! for Network Marketers, Unleashing Your Authentic Power, The Power of Letting Go, and Cracking the Rich Code. He is an internationally recognized business leader who is highly sought after as a keynote speaker for all audiences.
Jim was recently named as one of the world’s top 20 success coaches, the top 50 speakers worldwide and presented with the “Best of the Best” award out of...
A Mind For All Seasons | Eric Collett
Eric Collett is the Principal and CEO of A Mind For All Seasons, LLC, an innovative company specializing in helping clients of all ages optimize their cognitive functioning and improve symptoms of post-concussive disorders, dementia, brain fog, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other brain-related conditions. Eric is a licensed residential care administrator who has been working with seniors living with dementia and their families since 2000. Prior to starting A Mind For All Seasons, Eric spent ten years as an administrator, seven of which were as the Executive Director of a memory care community where he developed innovative approaches to person-centered...
It's Not About You, It's About Helping the Audience | Sarah Gershman
Sarah has spent the last 15 years coaching global executives in over 50 industries and is the founder and owner of Green Room Speakers. Whether preparing for a keynote address, briefing senior officials or pitching a product, Sarah helps leaders find their core message – and make that message stick. Sarah works with executives in Fortune 50 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Sarah is a Professor of Communications at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where she lectures regularly to students from around the world.
Find Sarah at https://gr...
